Best Assault Rifle loadouts in Black Ops 6 Season 1 Reloaded

Assault rifles have always had a place in the Call of Duty meta, and Black Ops 6 is no exception, where they are among the most versatile and powerful weapons in the game.

However, they aren’t all built equally, with some dominating multiplayer and others being second-rate options you’ll want to avoid. Figuring out which is which can be tricky, especially with the buffs and nerfs in Season 1 Reloaded shaking up the meta yet again. This update saw a new assault rifle added and several others adjusted, leaving you with the task of figuring out what to use.

To make sure you use the right builds and guns, we’ve broken down the best assault rifle loadouts in Black Ops 6, including attachments and a breakdown of where each of them ranks.

Best Assault Rifle loadouts

1. XM4

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
• Stock: Buffer Weight Stock

The XM4 is the ultimate jack-of-all-trades assault rifle that anyone can dominate with. It has low recoil, high accuracy, and great damage range, making it one of the top options at both medium and long range. However, it can also hold its own up close too thanks to its impressive fast fire rate of 800 RPM, which is one of the highest of any AR in Black Ops 6.

This loadout capitalizes on that aforementioned accuracy by maximizing recoil control. With this particular build, the XM4 is incredibly easy to use, with the Buffer Weight Stock making it easy enough to laser enemies from across the map. When this is used alongside the Vertical Foregrip, no other weapons are nearly as accurate, placing the XM4 ina class of its own.

2. Krig C

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• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Barrel: Reinforced Barrel
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Commando Grip

The Krig C is a great assault rifle that offers the perfect balance of accuracy, range, and damage. Equally, it has above-average hipfire accuracy and a recoil pattern that’s easy to control, making it a strong all-around option with very few weaknesses. However, its slower rate of fire makes it less forgiving than the XM4, so you can’t afford to miss shots.

While several other ARs require a compensator to be accurate, the Krig C is still very easy to use with a Suppressor. This helps it stand out as a potent close to medium-range gun for flankers who don’t want to use an SMG, especially after the AS VAL was nerfed yet again in Season 1 Reloaded. Since BO6’s maps tend to be on the smaller side, this assault rifle is almost always a top-tier option.

3. Model L

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Suppressor
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Quickdraw Grip
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

If accuracy is what you prioritize over everything else, the Model L is the gun for you. It’s tough to justify over the XM4, but there is a certain appeal to a gun that is this easy to use. In many ways, it’s reminiscent of the MCW from last year’s game, and that was one of the most popular weapons. The Model L isn’t quite as good, but it feels similar, and a lot of people will enjoy using it for that reason.

Our loadout makes the Model L have almost entirely vertical recoil, so it becomes very easy to control. Even at long range, you shouldn’t miss shots, with the Vertical Foregrip and Recoil Springs making it laser accurate. Another bonus of using this assault rifle is that it’s so accurate that you don’t need a muzzle to further reduce recoil, so you’re free to use a Suppressor, keeping you hidden from the other team.

4. Goblin Mk2

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Ported Compensator
• Barrel: Long Barrel
• Rear Grip: Commando Grip
• Fire Mods: Rapid Fire

While MW3 didn’t exactly have a meta semi-auto AR, they are normally a staple of Call of Duty, with the G3, FAL, and SKS all being serious meta contenders in years gone by. In Black Ops 6, it’s the Goblin Mk2 that stands out as the game’s best semi-auto weapon, delivering a devastating TTK of just 233 ms if you use the Rapid Fire attachment.

That beats out not just every other assault rifle, and by a large margin at that, but also most of the SMGs. Of course, this comes at the cost of it being a semi-auto gun, so it won’t be for everyone. It also has a decent amount of recoil, which this loadout does improve but can’t mitigate entirely. This is very much a high-skill, high-reward option for those who are confident in their aim.

5. AK-74

Dexerto

• Optic: Kepler Microflex
• Muzzle: Compensator
• Underbarrel: Vertical Foregrip
• Rear Grip: Commando Grip
• Fire Mods: Recoil Springs

If you are a big fan of hard-hitting ARs with slower fire rates, Black Ops 6 has just the weapon for you. The AK-74 is Call of Duty’s latest interpretation of the ever-iconic Kalashnikov, and it’s pretty powerful. It offers a blisteringly quick TTK at the cost of increased recoil, but if you can control this kick, very little will beat this gun.

Naturally, you want to use an AK-74 build that improves recoil control, and our recommended loadout does just that. In particular, the Vertical Foregrip helps a lot, as it reduces horizontal recoil by 30%, letting you simply pull down on the stick or with your mouse to control the gun. Vertical recoil has always been easier to predict than horizontal, so using this attachment should be a priority.

All BO6 Assault Rifles ranked

There are currently 8 assault rifles in Black Ops 6, with the Krig-C being the latest addition. Here’s how all of these assault rifles rank from best to worst:

RANK	GUN	TTK (MS)
1	XM4	300
2	Krig C	297
3	Model L	300
4	Goblin Mk2	260
5	AK-74	276
6	AMES 85	320
7	AS VAL	268
8	GPR 91	336

Meta analysis

Dexerto / Activision

For the most part, the meta has not shifted much in Season 1 Reloaded, with the XM4 remaining the top option. Its high accuracy, competitive TTK, and fast fire rate make it the most versatile assault rifle in Black Ops 6. The Krig C comes in at a close second, but the XM4 barely wins thanks to the Buffer Weight Stock, a unique attachment that gives the meta AR unrivaled accuracy.

The AK-74 and Model L are two other options that excel in their respective roles. The AK-74 deals a ton of damage, making it a devastating option up close, and the Model L is remarkably accurate, with it being easy to use regardless of skill level. Both of these are competitive options that shouldn’t be underestimated.

For high-skill players, the Goblin Mk2 is a great gun that rewards accuracy more than any other AR on this list. As for the AMES 85, it is an okay choice that is unfortunately outperformed by the Model L and XM4, both of which are effectively just better versions of it. However, it is still viable, as is the case with most assault rifles in BO6.

The two exceptions to this are the GPR 91 and AS VAL. The GPR 91 has been underwhelming since launch, with its low damage being problematic in any vaguely competitive lobby. As for the AS VAL, more nerfs in Season 1 Reloaded mean it is now an AR-SMG hybrid that isn’t versatile enough to be a rifle or mobile enough to be an SMG. Sadly, there’s just not much point in using it anymore.

For more options to use on your next Black Ops 6 loadout, check out the best SMGs, as well as our complete weapon tier list to find out where all of the guns rank. You’ll also want to make sure that you are using the best audio settings, best PC settings, and best controller settings to streamline your experience.